Previously we looked at the Nicolls background, their role as administrators and their horse breeding activities. In this second part we will concentrate on their racehorse ownership.
Racehorse Ownership
There is considerable crossover when discussing breeding and racehorse ownership of the Nicoll family. Discussion of individual horses covered below is likely to have already been mentioned briefly in the first part of this article.
Harry Nicoll – was dual gaited due to his success with several gallopers (raced under the non du plume “Mr J Case”, his first wife’s father’s name was Julien Case) notably the thoroughbred mare Idasa. A winner of the Criterion Hcp at Ellerslie as a two year old in 1902, winning the Waihi/Hawera Cups and in 1907 won the Ashburton and Geraldine Cups. Later Idasa became the grand dam of Springfield Globe (NZFFA, ID Pacing Grand Final and sire of consecutive NZ Cup winners Mobile Globe (1952), Adorian (1953)), his dam Ayr (Logan Pointer/Precision) was purchased by Edgar Tatlow from Arthur Nicoll for 37½ guineas.
Other fine gallopers included Cross Battery, winner of many races including the Great Easter Handicap (Riccarton) and Ashburton Cup; Sea King, winner of twenty plus races; Ascalaphus, Invercargill and Gore Cups. Cross Battery and Sea King went to Australia in 1907 with Sea King running second in a Randwick highweight handicap and Cross Battery third in the Sydney Cup (winner : Realm). In later years Harry Nicolls confined his attention to the standardbred and from Durbar Lodge came some great pacers and trotter.
The first of two NZ Cup winners for Harry Nicoll was Durbar purchased from an Australian when the horse was a six year old after his 1903 season in NZ. Durbar was twelve when he won the NZ Cup (1908, third attempt) racing until he was eighteen years of age. This significant race victory came early in Harry Nicoll’s trotting career and was a major part of the lengthy association he formed with leading horseman Andy Pringle. Durbar, a son of Vancleve, was Australian bred and the winner of the 1903 Otahuhu Cup plus in Nicoll ownership the Canterbury Hcp, Ashburton TC Hcp, Henry Mace Memorial and National Hcp. He had placed third to Monte Carlo and Norice in the inaugural NZ Cup (1904).
This was his start of a great period of winning ownership for Harry Nicoll which resulted in him topping the NZ leading owners boards for four seasons over the following decade :
1910/11 £1,547; 1911/12 £1,222; 1911/12 £987½; 1920/21 £4,161
Likewise, he posted impressive ownership statistics in the Ashburton area such as for 1923/1924/1925 with Childe Pointer, Latona and Nell Pointer; 1925/6 £2,767 Nantwich, Sea Pearl, Ayr; 1929/30 £3,945 Wrackler, Wrackeen.
Harry Nicoll having instigated the Ashburton TC’s NZ Sapling Stakes in 1919 placed second with his horse, favourite Lady Swithin (winner Doraldina). However over a period of years eleven of his horses started – all being placed with four of them winning – 1920 Childe Pointer, 1921 Latona, 1925 Nantwich, 1930 Arethusa. This feat was matched by many years later by Ben Grice owner, trainer, breeder of Kingcraft Farm – 1953 Buccaneer, 1959 Jonboy Star, 1969 Glamour, 1979 Royal Lopez.
Harry Nicoll’s considerable number of winners included many of classic races :
Queen V – 1897f (Kentucky/Harolds Rest), won the Easter New Zealand Hcp in the 1904/5 season which marked inaugural running of the NZ Cup. Queen V was a daughter of Kentucky, trained/driven by Andy Pringle for J Case (Harry Nicoll’s alias)
Pearlchild – 1908f (Rothschild/Verity), purchased from John Buckland, winner of National/August Hcps; prolific producing dam including Ciro, Childe Pointer, First Wrack, Nantwich, Pearl Pointer, Sea Pearl, Vanity Fair among others
Lady Swithin – 1916f (St Swithin/Lady Cherry), line bred to Childe Harold being by Nicoll’s Rothschild horse St Swithin from Lady Cherry, a daughter of Childe Harold stallion King Harold. Winner of GN Derby, Champion Stakes and NZ Juvenile Hcp at three after finishing second in inaugural NZ Sapling Stakes (1919)
Childe Pointer – 1917h (Logan Pointer/Pearlchild), winner of Sapling Stakes, NZ Derby, Champion Stakes, two Ashburton Cups
Latona – 1918h (Logan Pointer/Gianella), won Sapling Stakes, Oamaru Hcp
Nantwich – 1922f (Nelson Bingen/Pearlchild), winner of Sapling Stakes and GN Derby (stablemate Ayr finished second)
Manhattan – 1924g (Happy Voyage/Lady Cherry), winning trotter
Arethusa – 1927f (Wrack/Trix Pointer), full sister to Wrackler; winner of eleven races including Sapling Stakes (NZ Two Year Old filly record of 3:25 3/5 for 1½ miles), NZ Derby (fifth win in just six starts; part of double for owner Harry Nicoll, trainer Dan Warren and driver Maurice Holmes on same day Wrackler won 1930 NZ Cup), Henry Mace Memorial, Methven Cup, Ritchie and Park Hcps, 2:09.4 (among first 2:10 performers in NZ in 1933/34) and set 3yo filly two mile record. Her dam Trix Pointer also left Aldershot, Festivity, Mistral, Ochiltree, Raclaim and Wrackler.
Trix Pointer’s fillies bred on as did Arethusa, dam of several fillies that continue to breed on with Eva Sophnally (1:55.3, Ashburton F&M Mile) being the most recent example. Arethusa was grand dam of leading trotter Ordeal (first two minute trotter bred in NZ, T1:59.3US, Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup, USA Californian Trot); third dam of Cute Van (TAS Pacing Championship), Elbejay (QLD Derby); fifth dam of Ryans Day (SA Cup)
Ciro – 1928h (Wrack/Pearlchild), winner of NZ Derby
A steady supply of Durbar Lodge stock purchased by George Barton were sired by Wrack – these included :
Bracken – 1927f (Wrack/Maori Belle), winner of seven. Initially, she raced in the interests of Harry Nicoll, then Arthur Nicoll and finally Durbar Lodge Ltd – the Nicoll’s, father and sons combination behind Durbar Lodge. She won twice at three including her first start when trained/driven by Don Warren; once at four in saddle at a CPTC meeting at Addington for trainer Jack Behrns/driver Maurice Holmes; once at five for the same combination at Addington with a second to Barton owned Tempest in the Methven Cup.
Following an unsuccessful six year old season, Barton acquired Bracken for racing at seven (1934/5) where she won three races for him (tr Claude [FC] Dunleavy/driver Jack Fraser jnr) at Hutt Park, Timaru and Express Hcp on the opening day of NZMTC Easter meeting. She returned to Durbar Lodge’s ownership for her final racing season at eight, her best effort finishing third in Forbury’s Presidents Hcp.
Tempest – 1928f (Wrack/Nell Pointer), winner of eighteen racing for George Barton except for her first start second in the 1931 Sapling Stakes for owner Arthur Nicoll/dr Jack Kennerley. Major successes included GN Derby (second NZ Derby to Harry Nicoll’s Ciro), Methven Cup, Forbury Hcp, King George Hcp (two), Henry Mace Memorial, Ollivier Hcp and in Western Australia, thirteen Gloucester Park victories including two Easter Cups; placed second twice in NZFFA and once third, thirds 1937 NZ Cup to Lucky Jack, 1938 ID Pacers Consolation.
Wrecker – 1928g (Wrack/unknown dam), winner of eleven races. Starting out in the ownership of Harry Nicoll, Wrecker was a good performer winning one race at Greymouth from his first four starts at three. Barton acquired him and he gained three further victories at Timaru, 1932 Juvenile Hcp at Addington and Ashburton. At four, Wrecker had a win at Ashburton before winning on three occasions at five, two at Addington and the Otahuhu Cup at Alexandra Park. Passing into the ownership of Bill (W) Hosking’s at six he recorded two victories at Auckland. Returning to Barton‘s ownership for his final season at seven, Wrecker‘s one win off 72 yds was a dead heat with Rey Spec (48 yds) in the Metropolitan Hcp at Addington in September 1935. In total Wrecker won eight races for George Barton.
Bitter Sweet – 1936f (Wrack/Nantwich), winner of nine for Barton and another Durbar Lodge Ltd product, Bitter Sweet raced for his breeders at three/four where nine starts trotting yielded a solitary second placing. Commencing racing for Barton at five, she recorded five wins at Oamaru, Forbury Park (three) and Addington. An Addington winner at six, she placed second in the Rowe Cup (96 yds) to Parrish Belle. Bitter Sweet recorded her fourth and fifth victories out of nine career wins at Forbury as a seven year old. At eight in her final season, she won the Middleton Hcp (12 yds) on the third day of the 1939 NZ Cup carnival after being unplaced in the Dominion Hcp.
One of two champions to come from Durbar Lodge was all American bred Wrackler (1925g Wrack/Trix Pointer), 2:08.4 (T2:12.0), one hundred and thirteen starts, seventeen wins (thirteen pacing, four trotting), £8,655. Bred and raced by Harry Nicoll, this dual gaited horse became the only horse to win NZ’s two premier races, the NZ Cup (pacing) and the Dominion Handicap (trotting), a record unlikely to ever be threatened. His dam Trix Pointer is the only mare to have won the NZ Cup and whose subsequent foal won a NZ Cup and Dominion Hcp. Wrackler is an inductee of the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.
Wrackler commenced racing as a pacer at two from the stable of Ashburton trainer Don Warren. He recorded two thirds, including one in the Sapling Stakes to Sonoma Child. A champion three year old Wrackler won on five occasions, three in the hands of Maurice Holmes (GN**/NZ Derbies, Oamaru Presidents Hcp), although Don Warren drove him in his first ever win in the Rakaia Hcp at Ashburton and a mile event (2:16 1/5) at Forbury Park.
** one of twelve GN Derbies for Holmes.
Wrackler again won five races pacing as a four year old (third highest seasonal stake earner), again winning the Rakaia Hcp (84 yds) at Ashburton, three wins at Alexandra Park (Ranfurly/Spring/Alexandra Hcps) and uniquely for a four year old the NZ Trotting Gold Cup at Hutt Park (750 sovereigns).
In his five year old season, Wrackler won the NZ Cup Trial at Hutt Park, the second division and final of the 1930 NZ Cup (12 yds) at Addington (same day Wrackler’s sister Arethusa won NZ Derby, both winners trained by Don Warren/driven by twenty two year old Maurice Holmes, first of three Cup winning drives). Wrackler defeated Author Jinks by four lengths with a similar margin to Jewel Pointer with Kohara in fourth place. There were only eight starters in the 1930 NZ Cup (first four placegetters in each heat/division of NZ Cup).
Wrackler covered the two mile distance in 4:24.2 (5 seconds quicker than his dam). Wrackler, the favourite paid £2 16s 6d for the win. He finished third in the NZ Free-for-All to King Pointer beaten a head and a head. His three wins placed him third highest seasonal stake earner. Placed fourth off 60 yards in that seasons Auckland Cup won by Carmel.
At six, Wrackler placed second in his NZ Cup heat to Free Advice, fourth to Harold Logan in a seven horse field NZ Cup final and unplaced from 84 yards to Royal Silk in the Auckland Cup. Following his unsuccessful Auckland Cup campaign and Don Warren’s death, Wrackler first switched to the trotting gait when Jack Behrns, an employee at Durbar Lodge took over as private trainer for Harry Nicoll turning him into a top trotter.
His first start as a trotter produced a second to White Satin in the Summer Hcp at Addington. Mixing gaits with several unplaced starts as a pacer, Wrackler recorded his first win as a trotter beating the pacers over two miles at a special war relief meeting (depression years) at Addington in July 1932 (Owners and Breeders Hcp, T4:29 3/5). Arthur Nicoll and his Durbar Lodge Ltd operation now owned Wrackler whose victory at 8/8 in the betting qualified him for the Dominion Handicap which he won four months later.
As a seven year old, Maurice Holmes handled Wrackler (60 yds) in his Dominion Hcp success in November 1932, winning by two lengths in a time of T4:26 1/5 for the two miles. Second to Todd Lanzia in the two mile Sockburn Hcp (120 yds) on the second day of the Cup meeting, Wrackler rounded off his NZ Cup meeting campaign with a NZ/world record time for 1½m (pacing or trotting) when second to Arctotis in the Middleton Hcp (84 yds, T3:15 4/5). Five unplaced pacing efforts followed before his last win for Jack Behrns/Maurice Holmes in the five horse International Trotting Championship match race (Addington, February 1933). This 1½m race was run from a flying start and won in T3:18.0 (other starters were Todd Lanzia, Peterwah, Olive Nelson, Stanley T). Wrackler was leading trotting stake earner for 1932/3 season.
At eight, Wrackler lost all semblance of form going unplaced from thirteen starts which included the NZ Cup as a pacer. Five times unplaced at nine (mixing his gaits, sliding into a pace in 1934 Dominion Hcp) and ten failures as ten year old. At eleven from the Winchmore (Ashburton) stable of Leicester (LA) Maidens he ran second to Norma Bingen in early August at Addington before two days later recording his seventeenth and final win in the Addington Hcp (60 yds) beating top trotting mare Sea Gift (Dominion Hcp) by 1½ lengths in T3:20 3/5 (1½m). Wrackler finished third to Norma Bingen in the 1936 Dominion Hcp together with a couple of further placings before being retired after his third twelve year old start, unplaced in the August 1937 Federal Hcp at Addington (Kings Play). He did race (unofficially) once more at a patriotic gymkhana in the Ashburton district from 96 yards behind but to no avail.
Wrackler was taken over in retirement by Gerald Nicoll (Arthur’s brother) and lived out a long and contented retirement at Penscroft, near Ashburton including carrying children to school on his back daily for many years. He died at the age of 27 in 1951.
Harry Nicoll engaged Andy Pringle as his private trainer which he remained for many years. Pringle was highly regarded for his many feats of horsemanship, ranking as a fine reinsman particularly on a saddle trotter. Pringle was leading driver in New Zealand for the 1914/5 (24), 1916/7 (29) and 1917/8 (20) seasons.
Written in the NZ Trotting Calendar (13 April 1955) was the following extract from Karl Scott’s “Pillars of Harness Horsedom” quoting Harry Nicoll :
“When first I became interested in the trotting sport, about 1902, Pringle was training at Gore and I heard of his reputation as a very skilled horseman,” said Mr Nicoll. “In 1904 my mare Dora was engaged at Geraldine and I asked Andy to ride her. She did not win but Andy’s riding so impressed me that I made him an offer to train for me privately. When he accepted I laid out a track on my Mitcham Road farm at Ashburton and he came to live there.”
“Andy at once made his value apparent, and never did I at any time have cause to other than value his services. The first meeting attended after his engagement by me was in 1905, when the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting was held on the Riccarton racecourse. He won three races: with Victor Huon over two miles in 5.19, with Verity over a mile and a half in 3.47, and with Durbar over two miles in 4.55.”
“Pringle was probably the best all-round horseman of his day; it was rarely that he took my horses to a meeting without winning one or more races. His integrity was an intrinsic part of his nature. I remember one occasion at Addington in 1906. He was riding Dora and I said to him: ‘What will win?’ He replied ‘Alliance, will you put a fiver on for me?’ I said: ‘Very well, but remember, I’m backing Dora.’ In the straight Alliance and Dora came away from the field and in a ding-dong finish Pringle, by a brilliant piece of riding, just managed to win with Dora, who paid £10 4s. Alliance paid 10s for second.
“Pringle was always in great demand by other owners to ride and drive their horses, and for many years there was rarely a race run, when he was present, in which he was not engaged. The sport lost an admirable exponent when he retired. I have nothing but happy memories of my association with him,” concluded Mr Nicoll.
Andy Pringle trained for Nicoll (1904-1914) before Don Warren took over until 1931. Warren was a highly regarded horseman with heart and personal problems. In August 1931 he was demoted by Harry Nicoll as the Durbar Lodge trainer in favour of assistant Jack Behrns who had first gone to Durbar Lodge as a twenty one year old in 1928. A few weeks later Warren made a cup of tea for Behrns and his wife, he chatted for a while and then went behind the barn and blew his head off with a shotgun. His health and demotion had devastated the then forty three year old. Jack Behrns remained at Durbar Lodge for a further four years including training Indianapolis for his first win.
Arthur Nicoll acquired his first broodmare Nell Pointer from his father in 1923 and she left his first winner Nella Dillon (Author Dillon). From Nell Pointer he bred Grand Canyon (Wrack) in 1926 that he sold as a 2-year-old for twelve hundred guineas. In 1928 Nell Pointer left Tempest (Wrack) who finished a length and a half behind the brilliant pony Silver De Oro in the 1931 Sapling Stakes this his only start for Nicoll before his sale to George Barton.
Raclaim – 1928f (Wrack/Trix Pointer), full sister to Wrackler, winning trotter raced by Arthur; dam of Dominion Hcp winner Acclamation (bred by brother Gerald), Rowe Cup winner Rewa Scott for Derek Jones (grand dam of ID Trotting champion Geffin, Final/two heats; Dupreez, ID Trot heat); grand dam of Yamamoto 1966 ID Trotters G/F Sydney for Jack and Colin Watts; third dam of NZ Cup winner Humphrey (Kaikoura Cup, ID heat).
Cloudy Range – 1929g (Wrack/Ayr), winner of sixteen (six for Barton). He won a single race at two and three for Nicoll before ownership passed to Eugene McDermott. At four, three wins for trainer/driver McDermott included the Lightning Hcp at Addington and the Greymouth Cup. Three further wins followed at five including the 1934 Forbury Presidents Hcp. Following a further two wins for McDermott at six, ownership passed to George Barton for whom a further three wins were obtained. At seven, three wins and unplaced in Indianapolis’s third NZ Cup. As an 8yo, he was one of five Barton representatives in the 1938 Christchurch Interdominions, placing third to Lucky Jack in a heat and unplaced in his last start the 1938 ID Grand Final won by Pot Luck (overall series won on points by Parisienne).
Ironside – 1931g (Wrack/Gatwick, full sister of Ayr), was purchased by Jack Shaw and owner Bill Hosking from Arthur. He won Bollard Memorial and numerous Cups including Wanganui/Waikato/National/Ashburton/Adams Memorial and Dunedin
Aldershot – 1935h (Wrack/Trix Pointer), full brother to Wrackler, finished second in Sapling Stakes (third time he filled that position as owner), winner of NZ Derby (one of twelve NZ Derby winning drives for Maurice Holmes), Canterbury Juvenile, Wellington Stakes. Aldershot was sold at the outbreak of World War II
Others Wrack left by Pearlchild included Flying Cloud, Vanity Fair and First Wrack, a winning trotter of Middleton/Sockburn Trots at Addington. At two, she finished third in open company at Ashburton before engaging in a match race at Alexandra Park against Koro Peter in June 1928 (finished second).
Ordeal – 1951f Light Brigade/Arizona (unraced by U Scott/Arethusa, grand dam full sister to Wrackler), a first foal bred by Arthur Nicoll was sold at the 1955 Easter sales (lot 179) for 310 guineas to Courtenay famer Bill Bradley. Later became the first two minute trotter bred in NZ, T1:59.3US (1963). Winner of seventeen NZ/nine USA races, Worthy Queen Trot (twice), Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup and Gp 2 Californian Trot at Santa Anita in career best T1:59.359.3. NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee.
Sapling – 1973g (Young Charles/Hakondahl), grand dam was Lady Fair bred by Arthur Nicoll (Lucky Hanover/Lady Treazle; by U Scott/Vanity Fair by Wrack/Pearlchild; by Rothschild/Verity, Australian bred daughter of Vancleve and unnamed mare by Bar B – purchased by John Buckland from Harry Nicoll). Sapling was the winner of GN Derby, Messenger, Easter/Auckland Cups and an ID heat.
The other champion to originate from Durbar Lodge was Indianapolis bred at Harry Nicoll’s Durbar Lodge, Ashburton by Freeman Holmes and WH Norton, both of Christchurch. In 1932 Arthur Nicoll purchased the famed Indianapolis from his father’s dispersal sale. Ccommencing racing in Nicolls colours as a 2yo (1931/2) being trained by Jack Behrns who went to Durbar Lodge as 21yo under Don Warren. Three years later in 1931 he assumed full training duties from Warren at Durbar Lodge where he remained for a further four years. Behrns trained Indianapolis for His first win was in the Selma Hcp (1½m) as a 2yo against rivals of all ages at the Ashburton County RC meeting in May 1932 (13th favourite; tr Jack Behrns/dr Maurice Holmes). A couple of weeks later he finished second to Taxpayer in the Sapling Stakes. Indianapolis’s 2yo record was 2:1-1-0, £240.
Indianapolis was sold as an early three year old for £500 to leviathan Dunedin owner George Barton. This was after being trialled by his next trainer/driver leading horseman Bill (WJ) Tomkinson who rated him “the greatest pacer ever foaled” – it proved a bargain even for the depression years.
Indianapolis – 1929c (Wrack/Estella Amos), seventy three starts : twenty seven victories, eight seconds, five thirds (twenty six for George Barton; one for Arthur Nicoll); 2:00.4TT, £10,257.
Following dual NZ Cup winner of 1931/1932 Harold Logan, Indianapolis was a personality horse, public idol and champion NZ bred horse of the 1930’s Great Depression years. One of the greatest stayers ever produced in the Dominion, other salient facts concerning him include :
- Leading stake earner 1934/5 season : £3,210
- Established mile records 2.01.4TT (19/1/1935 Addington); 2:00.4TT (13/11/1936 Addington); [Lawn Derby was first to better 2 minutes in Australasia – 1:59.4TT 11/11/1938 at Addington]; world 2 mile record 4:15.8 (NZ Cup 1934)
- Winner of NZ Cup/FFA same year 1935
- First three time winner of NZ Cup in successive years 1934/1935/1936 (record shared with False Step 1958/1959/1960 and Terror To Love 2011/2012/2013)
- Remarkable NZ Cup sequence :
at 5 : 1934 NZ Cup defeated Blue Mountain King & 1931/1932 dual NZ Cup winner Harold Logan
at 6 : 1935 NZ Cup defeated War Buoy and 1933 NZ Cup winner Red Shadow
at 7 : 1936 NZ Cup defeated Red Shadow, War Buoy and Harold Logan
Winning several other classic races for George Barton such as GN Derby, Auckland Cup and an ID Pacing Consolation, Indianapolis raced from age two until ten years of age.
Arthur Nicoll was not the bold opportunist that his father Harry was. On hand to witness “Cardigan Bay’s fourth win at Roxburgh in early April 1961, Nicoll learned that this impressive individual could be purchased. Having recently sold some of his Ashburton holdings, Nicoll took the advice of his accountant purchasing some shares in a recently established Australian company rather than invest in additional horseflesh. The company subsequently collapsed. Such is life.
This two part article hardly does justice to the achievements and input into harness racing made by the Nicolls family of Ashburton. It does at least give some insight into the immense impact they did make.
Peter Craig
30 September 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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